03/29/2017

I am excited to announce ASCENT’s latest courseware title “Using Autodesk Navisworks in a BIM Workflow”. From the beginning of this project we had fantastic feedback from industry, our customers, and even instructors that use our training guides. Thank you! This provided us with valuable insight into how Navisworks was being used and guided us to the type of offering that we wanted and more importantly was clearly needed.

The first thing you will notice is that we have structured this guide to follow a BIM workflow, as shown below. Next, with the help of my co-worker, Martha Hollowell, we have created a book that crosses disciplines. This book guides you through the process of bringing civil, architectural, structural, and mechanical models together into one BIM model. Then, you use inquiry tools, Clash Detective, TimeLiner and Animator tools to better predict the project’s outcome.

Rather than simple animations, like opening a door and walking through the model, we teach you how to animate a piece of construction equipment (shown in the video below) and run a time-based clash test. This helps stake holders to better understand any issues that might arise during the construction phase.

As in any design environment, change happens. We have used realistic models for all disciplines and show how modeling changes are made and update easily in Navisworks. As you work through how to use Navisworks in a BIM Workflow, you still learn the basics of the software. What I like about this is that you learn each tool when it is applicable. This is certainly not a tool-based training guide, instead, you learn what you need,when you need it.

Topics in the book include the following:

Understanding the purpose of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and how it is applied in the Autodesk Navisworks software.

Consolidate Models

Navigating the Autodesk Navisworks workspace and interface.

Creating a composite model.

Transforming models for proper alignment.

Review and Analyze Models

Using basic viewing tools.

Saving and retrieving views.

Sectioning a model.

Investigating properties.

Searching for items.

Hiding and unhiding items.

Communication

Measuring a model.

Adding tags and comments to model components.

Marking up and redlining the model.

Animate a model.

Collaboration

Reviewing a model for clashes.

Consolidating redlines from other team members.

Construction

Creating a construction timeline.

Animating a construction timeline.

We also included an Appendix at the end of the training guide that provides you with some information on how to prepare your models for use in Navisworks. This is especially important when it comes to using Timeliner for construction simulation of Revit or Civil 3D models. In both Revit and AutoCAD Civil 3D, multiple parts make up one object in the model. Yet during construction, those objects are constructed as individual entities. The Appendix guides you through the steps on how to prepare your Revit model and AutoCAD Civil 3D model for TimeLiner for a more accurate construction simulation.

I am very excited to hear how you like this new offering. Let us know what you think by sending us an email to feedback@ascented.com.